Despite a slight decrease from last year, tick numbers in the Northeast remain high, posing a significant risk of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease. According to Thomas Daniels of the Fordham University Louis Calder Center, the tick index is currently at a 9 out of 10, indicating a high risk of tick exposure in the Tri-State area.
Protecting Yourself and Your Family
To minimize the risk of tick-borne illnesses, it is essential to take precautions when spending time outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend removing ticks as soon as possible, as they typically need to be attached for more than 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. When removing a tick, use tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull upward without jerking or twisting.
It is also crucial to conduct thorough checks of your clothes and body for other ticks after removing one. Lyme disease can present symptoms days or months after a tick bite, including a rash, fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. If you experience any of these symptoms and have recently been bitten by a tick or live in an area where Lyme disease is common, seek medical attention.
The CDC also advises identifying the species of tick to determine the risk of contracting a tick-borne illness. The black-legged tick, commonly known as the deer tick, and the western black-legged tick are the two species in the US that can carry Lyme disease.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
